View: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                View

                Face to face 

                heart to heart

                words to words

                insight to insight

                thoughts to thoughts

                memories to memories

                views to views.

                His eternal love.

                His daily presence.

                His ongoing mercy.

Psalm 107:42-43: "The upright see it, and are glad; But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth. Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things; And consider the lovingkindness of the Lord.

                                   Blessings Into 2024

"And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

                                    Acts 2:42

Reflection: Priority: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. How often do we keep our hearts focused on the Lord? Especially when on a busy day? 

        2. Do you choose to see Him each day through thoughts and memories?

        3. Or seek His presence in all places with other people?

        4. Or asking Him to please write His words into your soul so that you can see each day through His view.

Share: When was the first time you saw through His eyes--His view? How does that guide you now?

Priority: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John:13-14: "I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name."

Priority

 Lord, please keep our hearts living to You only.

May we see You every day through thoughts and meanings and relationships with others we connect with; knowing that You are present in all places. Holding us in heart and soul.

Please write Your Words into our minds--into our souls--into our breaths--so that we only see each day through Your view--Your sight.

With gratitude and love.

Your thoughts,

Testimony: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Testimony 

                Words have such power

                for light or dark

                can twist too often

                when taken for granted.

                Words of truth are

                faithful always

                carried in love

                when we seek His witness.

                Words of grace and mercy

                fill our hearts daily

                creating ongoing life

                with God's presence.

Psalm 107: 40-41: "He pours contempt upon princes, And makes them wander in a pathless waste. But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, And makes His families like a flock.

Reflection: Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Do you ask the Lord for His words only? Why or why not? 

        2. How do you discern any false evil in thoughts?

        3. What do you use to test for good witness?

Share: What unexpected words has the Lord given you to bear witness when He leads?

Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John: 11-12: "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true."

Witness

Lord, even in our times of uselessness we ask to stay true to Your words within ourselves and outwardly to others.

When we speak anything that are in error please dissolve them before any one hears or reads them.

We ask to hold to Your words only. Your truth only. And to live into them as You lead.

Your thoughts,

Self-centered: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Self-centered 

                It is hard sometimes to

                realize a leader has become

                self-centered and twists

                truth for personal selfishness

                satisfied only with power

                pretending to be a faithful

                follower.

                It matters to seek the truth

                In every word and forbid

                Inciting lies to enter.

Psalm 107:39: "When they are diminished and bowed down, Through oppression, misery and sorrow."

Reflection: Twisted: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1.  Have you been given twisted words that pulled you into vulnerability and not in His truth? What caused it?

        2. What misinterpretations brought what consequences? 

        3. How does seeking truth before actions guides you for yourself and towards others now?

Share: How do you now hold onto  His strength to stay in His words only?

Twisted: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John:9-10: "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and outs them out of the church."

Twisted

Lord, we need your reminder to step first into Your words and concepts to protect us from falling into vulnerability of twisted words.

Words spoken not from You but from someone seeking personal selfishness. And also when we misunderstand ourselves and deliver false interpretations.

Please keep teaching us to walk only in Your truth whether alone or with others. To hesitate when uncertain and confirm through prayer instead of being self-centered.

We ask for the strength to stay in Your Words only.

Your thoughts,

Multiply: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Multiply

                Spirit's witness of truth 

                on bearing gift of light

                and protection throughout

                all our thought s and actions

                offering permanent healing

                Spirit's love and mercy.

Psalm 107:38: "Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, And He does not let their cattle decrease."

Reflection: Share: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. When have you been in a situation when you chose to not remember, or ignore, the Spirit's words and turned away? Why--what pulled you? 

        2. When have you been deceived by lies and actually thought you were being in His words? What brought you to truth?

        3. In which area do you still struggle most with agreeing to His words when you hear an attack: heart-soul-actions-words-commitments?

Share: How has the Spirit brought witness and mercy to heal and reconcile you to His truth?

Share: 3 John: Prayer and Poetry

Reading:3rd John:7-8: "For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

Share

We have been given the gift of relationship. Ongoing.

We need forgiveness for too often not remembering, or turning away, or ignoring words, or not sharing.

We pray to be completely attached to You Lord--in mind--in heart--in soul--in commitment. Every part of every hour and every day. As You call.

"Thy will be done."

Your thoughts,

Intercession: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Intercession 

                IN thoughts

                in quiet

                in conversation

                in worry

                in prayers

                in joy and sorrow

                in witness

                in hope

                Intercession HIS ongoing, everlasting mercy of love.

Psalm 107:37: "And sow fields and plant vineyards, And gather a fruitful harvest."

Reflection: Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Are His words of prayer your foundation in all circumstances, or only in difficulties? Why or why not? 

        2. Do you pray for insight on choices and direction as ongoing conversations? Why or why not?

        3. Do you immediately seek insight, whether in silence or conversations, to ask Him for words to pray?

Share: How do you recognize the nudges to pause and pray, especially when unexpected?

Witness: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John :5-6: "Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they bear witness to you love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God." 

Witness

Lord, please forgive us for too often becoming self-centered of 'other centered' when you nudge us.

We ask for insights as to when to speak and when to be silent in conversation, but in both to Your Spirit's Words what to pray.

And to continue to pray when You lead. May Your words be at the foundation and center of all our connections--in thoughts--in quiet--in conversation--in prayer.

Your thoughts,

Sincerity: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Sincerity

                Walking in truth an

                ongoing gift of mercy

                given by our Holy Spirit

                when we listen--really listen.

                Become immersed in truth

                as He leads moment

                by moment within our thoughts

                blessings unto relationships.

                His voice our strength

                as He prays for each of us

                committed to guide and protect as

                His walk a personal love.

Psalm 107:36: "And there He makes the hungry to dwell, So that they may establish an inhabited city."

                

Reflection: Immerse: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. In what ways do you recognize the witness to His truth? Which one is clearest to you? 

        2. When has the Spirit's truth immersed you to guide you from a difficult situation?

        3. Who has the Lord placed on your heart to pray for continually? Children? Family? Friends? And...?

Share: "How are you walking in truth? How does the Lord lead you?"

Immerse: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 3rd John:3-4: "For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."

Immerse

Lord, we can only walk in Your truth by the guidance of Your words and the Holy Spirit. Too often we forget and jump in without confirming with You.

Please keep us listening so that we are completely immersed in Your truth only and as You lead. To pray as You remind us for children, family, friends, strangers and....as You nudge us.

Anyone else You place into our thoughts or relationships.

We are still so far away from being a committed pray-er.

Please keep teaching and leading us to hear Your Spirit's voice--Your truth only. And to anyone else may we be dissolved or will be deaf to.

Your thoughts,

Praying: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Praying

                Silent words

                Prayer words

                Sharing words

                Purpose words

                Sound words

                Powerful words

                Spirit's words our light and foundation.

Psalm 107:35: "He changes a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into springs of water." 

Reflection: Words: 3 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. In what ways have fellow believers given love in truth when needed?

        2. How have gifts of prayers from others, when in deep difficulties, carried you through with peace?

        3. When has the Spirit given you words of grace to walk alongside someone in need?

Share: What gift of truth through prayer brought a deeper insight into your praying to become an ongoing walk?